Convertible merchandise display fixture



Dec. 28, 1965 J. A. M. BATEMAN CONVERTIBLE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE Filed Sept. 30, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mmvron JOHN A. M. BATEMAN wnumw Dec. 28, 1965 J, A, M, BATEMAN 3,226,172

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JOHN A. M. BATEMAN ATTORNEYS Dec. 28, 1965 J, A. M. BATEMAN CONVERTIBLE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE Flled Sept so 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JOHN A. M. BATE-MAN BY da,&m,-)1u'2m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,226,172 CONVERTIBLE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE John A. M. Bateman, New York, N.Y., assignor to Fieldcrest Mills, Inc., Spray, N.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 312,604 3 Claims. (Cl. 312-1401) This invention relates generally to an improved display fixture adapted for use in retail stores and similar business establishments for the storing and display of merchandise and more particularly to a display fixture which is easily convertible for selective use as a table-top display counter, as a gondola, or as a combination table-top and gondola display.

At times, it is desirable to display large quantities of merchandise within easy reach of the customers, such as during certain promotional sales periods. The most practical way of displaying large quantities of merchandise, such as towels and sheets or the like, is to stack them on table-top display counters. During normal sales periods, it becomes desirable to obtain the maximum efficiency in the presentation of the merchandise so as to attract the attention of the customer by the manner in which the merchandise is displayed. Merchandise can be more attractively displayed and more easily examined by the customers during these normal sales periods on a gondola. During other sales periods it may be desirable to display certain merchandise by both of the described methods at the same time.

Heretofore, when it has been desired to vary the display of merchandise during these different sales periods, it has been the practice to change the type of display fixture being used and a considerable amount of effort and time is required to change the display fixtures and the merchandise displayed thereon.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a versatile display fixture which can be easily converted for use as a table-top display counter, as a gondola, or as a combination table-top and gondola fixture to provide for variation in the arrangement of the merchandise for display and sale at different seasons and periods.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a display fixture of the type described which can be quickly and conveniently converted without the use of tools or other equipment and which is economical in initial cost yet is sufficiently heavy and durable to withstand heavy use.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide a display fixture of the type described which includes a main frame having a pair of similar table-top members hingedly connected thereto and normally occupying a substantially horizontal side-by-side relationship when the fixture is utilized as a table-top display counter, the table-top members being movable to a substantially vertical back-to-back position when the fixture is utilized as a gondola, and a support wing hingedly secured to the ends of each of the table-top members, the support wings being movable into right-angular relationship with the table-top members and into supporting engagement with the main frame for maintaining the table-top members in the vertical position. Also, the display fixture may be utilized as a combination table-top display counter and gondola by raising one of the table-top members to a vertical position while maintaining the other table-top member in a horizontal position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which--- 3,226,172 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the display fixture of the present invention when converted for use as a gondola-type display counter with the display shelves and supporting fixtures removed therefrom;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the display fixture converted for use as a table-top display counter;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 in FIGURE 1 and showing one possible arrangement of display shelves therein;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line 44 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the central portion of FIGURE 3, showing one of the tabletop members supported in vertical position and the other table-top member being moved between the horizontal and vertical positions; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional plan view, looking down on that portion of the fixture shown in FIGURE 5, with both table-top members in vertical position.

The display fixture includes a substantially rectangular base 10, the lower portion of which is adapted to be supported on the fioor and the upper portion of which supports a rectangular bottom 11 which extends outwardly beyond the base 10. Upright end members 12 and 13 are suitably secured at their lower edges to the ends of the bottom 11 and extend upwardly therefrom. A longitudinal center partition 14 is suitably secured at opposite ends to the end members 12 and 13 and its lower edge is suitably secured to the bottom 11 to substantially divide the main frame into equal parts or compartments at opposite sides thereof (FIGURE 3). The base 10, bottom 11, end walls 12 and 13, and the center partition 14 comprise the main frame of the display fixture and these parts remain in the same position when the fixture is converted to use as either a table-top or a gondola display.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the upper edge of the center partition 14 terminates below the upper level of the end members 12 and 13 and has the lower portion of a plate member 16 suitably secured thereto as by bolts 17. The upper portion of the plate member 16 extends above the level of the center partition 14 and has one leaf of each of a pair of piano hinges 20 and 20' suitably connected thereto as by welding. The other leaf of each of the piano hinges 20 and 20 is suitably secured to the corresponding inner edges of a pair of identical table-top members 21 and 21'. Since the table-top members 21 and 21 and the parts associated therewith are identical, only the table-top member 21 and its associated parts will be described in detail and the corresponding parts associated with the table-top member 21 will bear like refer ence characters with the prime notation added.

An angle iron member 23 is suitably secured to and extends along opposite ends of the table-top member 21. A plate 23a is suitably secured to the angle iron 23 at a point in the middle of the outer edge of the table-top member 21 (FIGURES 1 and 2). The plate 23a is provided with a threaded hole which is adapted to receive the threaded lower end of a signpost when the table-top member is in a vertical position, if desired. The vertical legs of angle iron support brackets 24 and 25 (FIGURE 2) are suitably secured to the angle iron member 23 and their horizontal legs are adapted to engage the upper edge of the respective end members 12 and 13 to support the upper surface of the table-top member 21 in a horizontal position and substantially level with the upper ends of the end members 12 and 13 when the display fixture is converted to a table-top counter (FIGURES 2 and 4).

The narrow leaves of identical hinges 26 and 27 are suitably connected to the inner surface of opposite ends 3 of the table-top member 21. As shown in FIGURES 4 and 6, the wider leaf of the hinge 26 is suitably secured to one leg of an open-frame support wing 28. The wider leaf of the hinge 27 is suitably secured to one leg ofa support wing 29 at the end of the table-top member 21 opposite the support wing 28 (FIGURE 1). The sup port wings 28 and 29 are preferably rectangular and formed of square tubular materiaI.

When the table-top member 21 is supported in a horizontal position, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, the sup port wings 28 and 29 are pivoted inwardly beneath and in substantially juxtaposition with the table-top member 21. The support wings 28 and 29 may be held in this inwardly folded position any suitable type of locking means, which may be in the form of spring clips 30 and 31 (FIGURE 1) which are suitably secured to the inner surface of the table-top member 21. The legs of the spring clips resiliently engage the support wings, in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 4.

To convert the display fixture from a table-top counter, as shown in FIGURE 2, to a gondola-type display fixture, as shown in FIGURE 1, the table-top members 21, 21 are raised to vertical back-to-back position and the support wings 28, 29 and 28, 29' are swung outwardly to right-angular relationship with the corresponding table top members 21, 21, so that their lower surfaces are in alinement above the end frame members 12 and 13, as shown in FIGURE 1. In the present instance, the lower surface of the wing supports 28 and 29 are provided with respective support screws 32 and 33. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the upper end of the adjustable support screw 32 is threadably embedded in a nut 34 which is fixed in the lower corner of the support wing 28. The lower end of the screw 32 is adapted to be positioned in a seating hole or indentation 35 in the upper edge of the end member 12 when the support wing 28 is moved into vertical alinement above the end member 12.

The lower surfaces of the table-top members 21 and 21' as well as opposite sides of the center partition 14 are provided with slotted shelf support channels 36 and 36' (FIGURE 3). The shelf support channels 36 and 36' are suitably spaced along opposite sides of the center partition 14 and table-top members 21 and 21 to support adjustable shelf brackets 37 and any desired arrangement of shelves S on which merchandise may be displayed. In order that the shelf support channels 36' on the tabletop member 21' be in vertical alinement above the corresponding shelf support channels on the partition 14, spacer strips 36a (FIGURE 3) are secured between the channels and the partition 14.

The merchandise, indicated at M in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, may be in the form of towels, sheets or the like which are arranged in an attractive manner on the shelves S. Also, various types of merchandise M may be hung from suitable display rods or the like which are supported in the shelf support channel members 36, as shown in dotted lines in the upper left portion of FIGURE 3.

When the counter top members 21, 21 are raised to a vertical position, as shown in FIGURE 1, the support wings 28, 29 and 28', 29' can be easily swung outwardly to overlie the upper edges of the end members 12 and 13 and their swinging movement is stopped when the sup port wings overlie the end members. As shown in FIG- URE 6, the leaves of the hinge 26 engage each other to stop the support wing 28 in right-angular relationship with the corresponding table-top member 21 and the lower end of the screw 32 is thereby alined with the seating hole or indentation 35 in the upper edge of the end member 12. The adjustment screws 32 may be adjusted so that the upper edges of the table-top members 21, 21 will be slightly separated when the adjustment screws are moved into their respective indentations 35. If desired, the adjustment screws 32 may be rotated to raise the outer ends of the corresponding support wings and move the upper edges of the table-top members 21, 21 together.

Although the display fixture will usually be utilized as a table-top display counter, as shown in FIGURE 2, or as a gondola-type display fixture, as shown in FIGURE 1, it is of course possible to raise only one of the table-top members 21 while maintaining the other table-top member in a horizontal position so that the display fixture is then utilized as a combination table-top and gondolatype display fixture. Thus, along one aisle of the store, the "merchandise would be arranged on a gondola and along the other aisle or at the other side of the display fixture, the merchandise would be stacked upon the horizontal table-top member.

It is thus seen that the display fixture of the present invention is extremely versatile in the displaying of various types of merchandise and that it can be easily and quickly converted from one type of display fixture to another for the most efficient display of the merchandise.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A merchandise display fixture adapted to be easily arranged for use either as a table-top counter or as a gondola, said merchandise display fixture comprising (a) a main frame having a pair of opposite open sides,

said main frame further having (1) a bottom,

(2) a pair of rigid spaced apart end members connected to and extending upwardly from said bottom, said end members terminating in upper edges,

(3) a vertical center panel extending between said end members and along the central portion of said bottom, and

(4) shelf support means provided on opposite sides of said center panel,

(b) a pair of similar table-top members extending between said end members and being hingedly connected at their adjacent edges to said main frame, and adjacent the upper edge of said center panel, siad table-top members being selectively movable to a substantially horizontal side-by-side position to arrange the display fixture as a table-top counter having open opposite sides, and said table-top members being selectively movable to a vertical back-to-back position extending above said end members in substantial alignment above said center panel to arrange the display fixture as a gondola,

(c) shelf support means carried by the underside of each of said table-top members and being adapted to receive shelves for displaying merchandise thereon when the fixture is arranged as a gondola, and

(d) means cooperating with said frame and said tabletop members for selectively maintaining said tabletop members in the horizontal and vertical positions.

2. A merchandise display fixture adapted to be easily arranged for use either as a table-top counter or as a gondola, said merchandise display fixture comprising (a) a main frame having a pair of opposite open sides,

said main frame further having (1) a bottom,

(2) a pair of rigid spaced apart end members connected to and extending upwardly from said bottom, said end members terminating in upper edges, and

(3) a vertical center panel extending between said end members and along the center portion of said bottom,

(b) a pair of similar table-top members extending between said end members and being hingedly connected at their adjacent edges to said main frame, and adjacent the upper edge of said center panel, said table-top members being selectively movable to a substantially horizontal side-by-side position to arrange the display fixture as a table-top counter having open opposite sides, and said table-top members being selectively movable to a vertical back-to-back position extending above said end members and in substantial alignment above said center panel to arrange the display fixture as a gondola,

(c) a rectangular open-frame wing hingedly connected along one side to each end of each of said table-top members, the lower edges of said wings being swingable into overlying relationship with the corresponding upper edges of said end members when said fixture is arranged as a gondola, and

((1) locking means engageable with said end members for maintaining said wings in overlying relation with the upper edges of said end members, said locking means including (1) an adjustment screw extending downwardly from the lower edges of each of said wings, and

(2) the upper edges of said end members having indentations therein for receiving the lower ends of corresponding adjustment screws.

3. A merchandise display fixture adapted to be easily arranged for use either as a table-top counter or as a gondola, said merchandise display fixture comprising (a) a main frame including (1) a bottom, and (2) a pair of rigid spaced apart end members, connected to and extending upwardly from said bottom, said end members terminating in upper edges,

(b) a pair of similar table-top members extending between said end members and being hingedly connected at their adjacent edges to said main frame, the adjacent edges of said table-top members being hingedly connected to said frame adjacent the upper edges of said end members and substantially in the center of the upper ends of said end members, said table-top members being selectively movable to a substantially horizontal side-by-side position to arrange the display fixture as a table-top counter, and said table-top members being selectively movable to a vertical back-to-back position extending above said end members to arrange the display fixture as a gondola,

(c) a support member attached to and extending outwardly from each end of said table-top members, said support members being positioned adjacent the outer edges of said table-top members and adapted to engage the upper edges of said end members to support said table-top members substantially flush with the upper edges of said end members when said table-top members are moved to the horizontal position,

(d) a wing support connected along one side to each end of each of said table-top members,

(e) hinge means being provided to connect said wing supports to said table-top members and permit the lower edges of each of said wings to swing into overlying relation with the corresponding u-pper edges of said end members when said table-top members are moved to the vertical position, and

(f) said hinge means including stop means for preventing the swinging of said wing members beyond overlying relation with said end members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 232,599 9/1880 Crandall l0850 X 292,657 1/1884 Kirkpatrick 10811 X 747,741 12/1903 Marsh 312140.2 X 1,889,901 12/1932 Millard 211-2 X 2,835,546 5/1958 Rothschild 312-140.4 X 2,844,257 7/1958 Friedman 10811 X 3,095,833 7/1963 Peter 10850 X 3,152,848 10/1964 Kalk 10860 X FOREIGN PATENTS 751,955 7/1933 France.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS,

Examiners.

A. FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE ADPATED TO BE EASILY ARRANGED FOR USE EITHER AS A TABLE-TOP COUNTER OR AS A GONDOLA, SAID MERCHANDISE DISPLAY FIXTURE COMPRISING (A) A MAIN FRAME HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITE OPEN SIDES, SAID MAIN FRAME FURTHER HAVING (1) A BOTTOM, (2) A PAIR OF RIGID SPACED APART END MEMBERS CONNECTED TO AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM, SAID END MEMBERS TERMINATING IN UPPER EDGES, (3) A VERTICAL CENTER PANEL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END MEMBERS AND ALONG THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BOTTOM, AND (4) SHELF SUPPORT MEANS PROVIDED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTER PANEL, (B) A PAIR OF SIMILAR TABLE-TOP MEMBERS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID END MEMBERS AND BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED AT THEIR ADJACENT EDGES TO SAID MAIN FRAME, AND ADJACENT THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID MAIN FRAME, SAID TABLE-TOP MEMBERS BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL SIDE-BY-SIDE POSITION TO ARRANGE THE DISPLAY FIXTURE AS A TABLE-TOP COUNTER HAVING OPEN OPPOSITE SIDES, AND SAID TABLE-TOP MEMBERS BEING SELECTIVELY MOVABLE TO A VERTICAL BACK-TO-BACK POSITION EXTENDING ABOVE SAID END MEMBERS IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT ABOVE SAID CENTER PANEL TO ARRANGE THE DISPLAY FIXTURE AS A GONDOLA, (C) SHELF SUPPORT MEANS CARRIED BY THE UNDERSIDE OF EACH OF SAID TABLE-TOP MEMBERS AND BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SHELVES FOR DISPLAYING MERCHANDISE THEREON WHEN THE FIXTURE IS ARRANGED AS A GONDOLA, AND (D) MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID FRAME AND SAID TABLETOP MEMBERS FOR SELECTIVELY MAINTAINING SAID TABLETOP MEMBERS IN THE HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL POSITIONS. 